JAYDEN Seales delivered a masterclass in pace bowling with sensational figures of 15.5-10-5-4, as the West Indies skittled out Bangladesh for 164 on the second day of the second Test here at Sabina Park, Sunday.
His performance saw him go into the record books with the seventh most economical spell in Test cricket since 1977 for bowlers delivering a minimum of 60 balls.
The Trinidadian ensured the hosts held a commanding position, and by stumps, the West Indies had reached 70 for 1, with Kraigg Brathwaite and Keacy Carty steadying the ship after the early loss of Mikyle Louis.
Earlier, it was Shamar Joseph who set the tone, dismantling the Bangladesh batting lineup with a fiery spell. After a solid 73-run partnership between Shadman Islam and Shahadat Hossain, Joseph triggered a dramatic collapse. From 83 for 2, the visitors slumped to 98 for 6 in the space of 34 balls, with Joseph accounting for three key dismissals.
Joseph first ended Shahadat’s resilient knock of 22, breaching his defence with a delivery that uprooted the stumps. He then forced Jaker Ali into an awkward pull shot, resulting in a top edge that lobbed behind for an easy catch by wicketkeeper Joshua Da Silva.
In his next over, Joseph found Shadman’s outside edge, giving Da Silva his fourth catch of the innings. Litton Das fell amid the carnage, edging Seales to first slip for just 1.
After lunch, Bangladesh’s lower order, led by Mehidy Hasan Miraz and Taijul Islam, mounted a stubborn resistance. The duo batted for 116 balls, adding 41 runs while frustrating the West Indies bowlers. Their stand ended when Taijul Islam fended an Alzarri Joseph bouncer to third slip for 16.
Seales returned to clean up the tail with ruthless efficiency, taking the final three wickets for just five runs. Taskin Ahmed’s attempt to pull a short ball resulted in a sharp catch by Alick Athanaze at second slip, courtesy of Da Silva’s reflexes.
Mehidy’s hook shot found the hands of fine leg, and Nahid Rana’s leg stump was uprooted by a pinpoint delivery to end the innings.
Bangladesh’s seamers responded with disciplined bowling, conceding only 16 runs in the ten overs before tea. After the interval, Rana’s fiery spell yielded the wicket of Louis for 12, caught behind off a sharp delivery.
Taijul Islam extracted turn and bounce from the surface, keeping both Brathwaite and Carty in check. Despite his accuracy, he failed to claim a wicket, with seven of his ten overs being maidens. The West Indies skipper Brathwaite, unbeaten on 33, and Carty, on 19, ensured there were no further setbacks before bad light ended play prematurely for the second consecutive day.